Ted Silva

Ted Silva enters his second season as the USC pitching coach in 2021 after his first campaign with the program (2020) was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In just 15 games, Silva's 2020 pitching staff showed great improvement, lowering the team ERA by over 2 full runs from 2019 to 2.42, the 17th best mark in the country over the course of the abbreviated sample size.

Silva came to USC after serving as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Nebraska under Darin Erstad, helping the Huskers to three NCAA Tournament appearances and six appearances in the Big 10 Tournament during his eight-year tenure (2012-19).

Silva’s pitching staffs at Nebraska were ranked in the top 100 nationally in ERA four times during his tenure, including the 24th best ERA (3.12) in the country in 2015. On the recruiting side, Silva’s 2019 class was ranked as high as No. 16 in the country and his 2013 class was the highest ranked in school history, coming in at No. 11 nationally that year. The Huskers’ 2014 class was also ranked in the top 25 as well.

During Silva’s time as the Nebraska pitching coach, nine Husker arms were selected in the MLB Draft, including Aaron Bummer, who made his Major League debut with the White Sox in 2017.

Prior to his time in Lincoln, Silva served as Gill’s pitching coach in his inaugural season at LMU in 2011, helping the Lions’ pitchers cut their ERA nearly in half from the previous season to 3.25, which was good for 30th in the country. Three LMU pitchers were eventually selected in the 2011 MLB Draft.

Silva served the three preceding seasons (2008-10) at UC Irvine under legendary skipper Mike Gillespie, helping the Anteater pitchers to 19 combined All-America awards and some of the best numbers in program history. Silva’s UCI staffs had the nation’s third-best ERA (3.27) in 2008, a program-record 503 strikeouts in 2008, tied the program record with 20 saves in 2009 and led the Big West in ERA (3.98) and strikeouts (483) in 2010.

He spent the 2007 season at Fresno State, working under Head Coach Mike Batesole, and helping to lead the Bulldogs to an NCAA Regional appearance and the second best ERA (4.54) in the WAC.

Silva started his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater Cal State Fullerton (2005-06), working for Head Coach George Horton and alongside Gill to get the Titans to Omaha in 2006.

As a player for the Titans, Silva pitched three seasons (1993-95), posting a 26-7 overall record and 2.92 ERA. As a teammate of Gill, he helped lead the 1994 team to Omaha and then played a central role on the 1995 National Championship squad, earning the win in the title game against USC.

Silva was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round of the 1995 MLB Draft and spent five seasons in the Rangers organization. He also spent a year pitching overseas in Taiwan and played one year of independent ball in the Atlantic League.